Halifax Partnership Announces Winners of the 2016 Game Changers Awards

October 20, 2016

HALIFAX, NS – The Halifax Partnership is pleased to announce the winners of the 2016 Game Changers Awards, presented by TD. The Game Changers Awards recognize exceptional Halifax businesses, individuals and organizations for their leadership in hiring youth, helping them grow professionally, and inspiring others to take action on the issue of youth retention.

The Game Changers Awards celebration took place October 19th at Pier 21. Eight awards were presented:

Halifax Partnership presents Connector Program Awards

“On behalf of the Halifax Partnership and our Game Changers sponsors, I would like to congratulate all the Game Changers Awards nominees and winners,” says Ron Hanlon, President and CEO of the Halifax Partnership. “These are employers and individuals who are investing in our youth, and who are seeing their return on investment reflected in their ability to grow their workforce and their business.”

The Halifax Partnership launched the Game Changers Action Plan last year to raise awareness of Nova Scotia’s youth retention issue and its impact on the economy, and to support businesses in hiring young professionals. The goal is to reduce the net annual average out-migration of 1,300 young people (20-29 years old) to zero by 2019.

Progress has been made with a net change in retention of 500 youth (20-29 years old) within the past year, breaking a 5-year trend of steady youth outmigration. This is positive news for employers, the city and the province.

“Helping our young people build futures here is critical to the region’s long-term economic prosperity,” says Hanlon. “Game Changers demonstrates that Halifax values their ideas and the investment they have made in their education. It shows them that Halifax is committed to being a city where they can build careers and enjoy an excellent quality of life.”

The Partnership received over 90 nominations for the inaugural Game Changers Awards. Nine finalists and three winners were chosen for both the Best Youth Employer and the Best Co-op Employer awards. Three finalists were selected for the Super Connector award and two for the Connector organization. The awards were judged by Game Changers sponsors and partners and the Halifax Partnership.